Method of and apparatus for forming hook bars



Nov. 19, 1929. J. J. MARSHALL 1,736,715

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HOOK BARS Filed Feb. 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illllh Ill INVENTUR- Nov. 19, 1929. J. J. MARSHALL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HOOK BARS Filed Feb.16, 1924 z Sheets-She'et= 2 INVENTDR IHIHII mmw NOV. 19, l929. MARSHALL 1,736,715

METHOD OFAND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HOOK BARS Filed Feb. 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 rim/ENTER- Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UlliTEfi STATES sari OFFICE JAMES J'. MARSHALL, OF GALT, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO CANADA MACHINERY CORPORATION LIMITED, 05 GALE, CANADA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HOOK BARS Application filed February 18, 1924.

This invention relates to the formation of book bars particularly adapted for use as the yokes or reach bars of rail anchors of the type shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,402,852, issued January 10th, 1922.

Such yokes require the blank to be formed with a hook of a very small radius of curvature at one end, and a hook of a greater radius of curvature at the opposite end, the latter being bent through an arc of over 180. The blank also requires to be bent intermediate its ends, and my object is to devise a machine which will form the shank and hold the blank, while the hook ends are substantially simultaneously formed immediately after the blank is suitably held.

I attain my object by forming the hook bar on a lipped die with which co-operates a second die to hold the blank and bend its shank, if required, and also bend i s ends partly round the aforesaid lips. l Vith the lipped die, at one side, a third die co-operates to upset one end of the blank over the adjacent lip to form the hook of short radius, while the other side a fourth die co-operates to bend the opposite end of the blank around the opposite lip, the completion of the bend being through the medium of a fifth die movable on the last mentioned die in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the fourth die.

The invention is hereinafter more specifically described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3 a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of parts of the same showing more particularly the anvil die and the cutting and stripping mechanism;

Fig. 4 a plan view, partly in section, of part of the machine showing more particularly the dies;

Fig. 5 a cross section on the line 55 in Fig. 4.;

Fig. 6 a longitudinal section showing the means for supporting and adjusting the cam engaging roller of one of the dies;

Fig. "I a side elevation of the form of hook Serial No. 693,183.

bar to produce which the machine is specifically adapted;

Fig. 8 a cross section of the die and die holder carried on the reciprocating slide; and

Fig. 9 a sectional detail of the forging die.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

l is the frame of the machine suitably shaped to support the different parts. On this frame is journalled the main shaft provided with a driving pulley 2, preferably provided with a clutch 3 of known type. This shaft has a gear pinion 4 secured thereto which meshes with the gear wheels 5 and 6. The gear wheel 5 is secured to a shaft 7, journalled on the frame of the machine, and carrying a gear pinion 8 meshing with the gear wheel 9, fast on the cam shaft 10, journalled on the frame of the machine. The gear wheel 6 is fast on a shaft 11, 'journalled on the frame of the machine, and carrying a ear pinion l2 meshing with a gear Wheel 13, fast on the combined cam and crank shaft- 14:, j ournalled on the frame of the machine at the opposite end thereof from the shaft 10. These two shafts are adapted as hereinafter described to actuate the forming dies and the cutter and stripper.

The frame of the machine carries a vertical guide 15 formed with a dovetail groove adapted to receive a dovetail projection 16 on the die 17. This die, when in use,being stationary, 1 term an anvil die.

3, is of considerable length, whereby, as one part becomes worn, the die may be shifted in the guide 15 to bring a fresh portion into service. The movement will usually be downward, and, the lower part of the die, as shown in Fig. 3, is ground on to smaller dimensions so that when the hook bar formed on the op- This die, aswlll be seen particularly on reference to F 1g.

pushed clear of the operative part of the die as hereinbefore referred to.

This anvil die is provided with the lips 18 and 19 at its opposite sides. The face of the die will, of course, be suitably shaped to give the desired form to the shank of the hook bar. In the present case, as the shank of the hook bar is bent intermediate its ends, the face of the anvil die is correspondingly shaped and,

as the hook at one end of the bar is to be formed with a greater radius than the hook at the other end, the lips 18 and 19 are correspondingly shaped. The lip 18 also tapers from the inner side outwardly as the hook end of smaller radius is to be thus formed. -While the lip 19 tapers inwardly, as shown, since the inner end of the hook of greater radius is required to be inclined inwardly somewhat towards the shank.

The complete hook bar is shown in Fig. 7.

WVith the face of the die 17 a die 20 is adapted to cooperate. This die is shaped, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, to correspond with the outer face of the die 17, and is carried on a slide 21 movable to and from the die 17 in guides 22 connected with the frame of the apparatus, and which is moved by the means hereinafter described. At one side this die 20 is curved to partly bend a bar blank round the lip 19 to a position shown by the full lines a in Fig. 4. The other side is provided with a curved portion adapted to partly bend the other end of the hook bar blank round the lip 18, but to an extent considerably less than the extent to which the other end is bent round the lip 19.

The blank, it should be stated, is a straight bar of metal of rectangular section, though it is obvious, of course, that the die might be modified to operate on blanks of diiferent section. The die 20, it will be noted, is shaped to partly receive a blank by the provision of the shoulder 23, see Fig. 8.

The formation of the hooks at the opposite ends of the blank is completed through the medium of the following dies. 24 is a die carrier pivoted at 25 on the frame of the machine. This die carrier is adapted to be rocked in the manner hereinafter described. Secured to the carrier is a die 26having a curved surface 27 adapted to complete the bending of the end hook bar round the lip 19 as indicated in dotted lines 6 in Fig. 4. This die 26 is bored to receive a hub 28 formed on the plate 29, the under side of the die 26 being cut so that this plate 29 is received between the die 26 and the die carrier 24. The upper part of the die 26 is also cut away to receive a plate 30. The plates 29' and 30 are secured together by means of the cap screw 31 passing through the plate and threaded into the hub. These plates are thus adapted to swing on the axis of the hub 28.

Formed in the plates 29 and 30 are opposite groves 32 adapted to receive a T-headed die 33. The plate 29 is provided with an abutment 34, against. which the die 33 abuts, see Fig. 4.

Bolts 35 serve to secure the die 26 to the die carrier, and a bolt 36 serves to secure together the outer ends of the plates 29 and 30 and thus hold the die 33 in position. Suitably secured on the frame of the machine is an inclined cam surface 37 ,preferably formed of hardened steel. With this cam surface the rounded corner of the abutment 34 is adapted to engage.

In milling out the die 26 to receive the plates 29 and 30 shoulders 38 and 39 are formed, which serve to limit the rocking movement of the plates 29 and 30 carrying the die 33. A coil spring 40 engages the die 26 and one of the plates and tends to maintain the said plates in engagement with the shoulder 38. The operation of the parts just described is as follows. The die carrier is rocked to move the dies 26 and 33 towards the lip 19. The die 33 contacts with the partly bent end of the hook bar and is pushed back against the action of the spring 40, thus permitting the die 26 to engage and bend the end of the hook bar to the position shown in the dotted lines 2'). At or about this time, the abutment 34 engages and rides up the cam surface 37, thus rocking the plates carrying the die 33 to cause the latter to engage the end of the hook bar and force it against the side of the lip 19, thus giving this end the inclination towards the shank of-the hook bar hereinbefore described.

When the dies are swung back to their initial position, the die 33 is pushed back to clear the bent end of the hook, and thereafter is returned to its normal position by the spring 40.

The opposite end of the hook bar is formed by the die 41 secured to the carrier 42, pivoted at 43 on the frame of the machine, so that the movement of the die 41 is substantially parallel to the length of the shank of the hook bar. The die 41 is provided with a curved surface 44, which conforms to the desired shape of the extreme end of the hook to be formed. The die is received between part of the carrier and a cap 94 and a recess is formed in the die to at least partly receive the end of the hook bar engaged by the curved surface 44; The die 41 is so positioned that as the hook bar blank is partly bent around the lip 18, by the action of the die 20, the extreme end of the hook bar strikes the curved surface 44 so that an outward bend is given the extreme end of the bar. As the die travels towards the lip, this end is upset and forged to form between the die 41 and the lip 18. During this upsetting operation the blank is supported by the dies 20 and 17 at both the back and front of the bend up to a point adjacent the level of the desired center of curvature of the hook. I thus succeed in forming a hook of small radius of curvature on a steel bar, which I have been unable to do by bending in the ordinary manner, since, particularly with a square bar, it is impossible to stretch the metal round the back of the hook in view of the very great difference between the radius of the inside and that of the back of the hook. By my process I obtain a hook, without undue stretching, in which the metal is well distributed for maximum strength by its displacement to the back ofthe hook.

The die carriers 24 and 42 are operated from the shaft 14, which is provided with cranks 45 and 46, the crank pins being journalled in blocks 47 and 48, in which are pivoted the connecting rods 49 and 50 by means of vertical pins 51. The other ends of the connecting rods are connected by means of ball and socket oints 57 with their respective die carriers 24 and 42. A universal joint is thus provided at each end of each connecting rod, which is necessary in view of the fact that the motion of the connecting rod is not in one plane. It should also be noted that the crank 46 has a shorter throw than the crank 45, since the required movement of the die 41 is less than that of the die 26.

The slide 21 carrying the die 20 is operated by the following means. A cam 52 is secured on the cam shaft 10, which engages a roller journalled in jaws 54. These jaws are provided with a cylindrical stem 55, the rear end 56 of which is turned down and suitably threaded. The stem is adapted to slide longitudinally in the slide 21. The end of the slide opposite the roller 53 is threaded to receive a threaded sleeve 57, which provided an adjustable abutment for the stem 55. It is evident, by rotatably adjusting the sleeve 57, that the roller 53 may be suitably positioned relative to the cam, and that wear may be taken up at any time. Lock nuts 58, threaded on the end 56, serve to lock the sleeve as adjusted. To relieve the strain on the threads of the sleeve 57 I may employ a nut and bolt 83 forming ascrew jack between the end 56 of the sleeve and the cross member of the slide 21.

Instead of depending on springs to return the slide 21, and therefore the die 20, to retracted position, I prefer to employ cam mechanism. For this purpose I provide the cam 59 adjacent the cam 52. This cam is adapted to engage an antifriction roller 61 journalled on the rock arm 62, pivoted at its upper end on the transverse shaft 63 suitably carried by brackets connected with the frame of the machine. A connecting rod 64 is pivotall; connected with the slide 21, and passes thrcugh an opening formed in the lower end of the rock arm 62. Adjusting nuts 65 are threaded on the end of this connecting rod,

' and a coil spring 66 is fitted on the rod be tween the inner side of the arm anda collar 67 on the rod. A more or less yielding connection is thus formed between the connecting rod and the arm, preventing any straining of the parts in the operation of the machine. Preferably there are two sets of the slide returning mechanisms employed, the cams 59 being located at opposite sidesof the cam 52.

The following mechanism is employed for cutting the blanks and stripping the finished hook bars from the anvil die. A rock arm 68 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the frame of the machine. rock arm carries an anti-friction roller 69, which engages a cam 70 secured to the shaft 14. Coil springs 71 secured at one end to the frame, and, at the other end, to a bracket 72 secured to the arm, tend to maintain the roller 69 in contact with the cam 70. A head 73, of any convenient form, is formed on or secured to the other end of the rock arm 68. To this head is secured a stamping die 74, a cutter 'die 75 and strippers 76. Each stripper is formed as an inverted L, the downwardly extending legs being nearest the anvil die. A table 77 is formed on or carried by the frame in proximity to the anvil die 17. On this table and extending in front of the anvil die is secured a cutting die 7 9. Adjacent the cutting die is a guide 80 secured to the table and beneath which the bar stock passes. An adjustable gauge or stop 81 is secured to the table at the opposite side of the die. Below the upper surface of the table are secured the supports 82. l/Vhen the machine is in operation, a bar of stock is pushed beneath the guide 80 and between the guide 78 and the anvil die until its end strikes the stop 81. When the head 75 descends the downwardly extending legs of the strippers 76 strip off a formed hookbar from the anvil die, and the cutter dies 00-.

operate to cut off a fresh blank from the bar stock, which blank is forced down bythe upper parts of the strippersonto the supports 82. A further descent of the head 73 causes the stamping die 74 to imprint the part of the bar stock, which will next be cut oif, with a suitable inscription.

In practice the various dies and the strippers will be detachable and replaceable in any known manner.

Briefly the mode of operation of the machine as a whole is as follows. cut from bar stock as just described, which stock may be fed forward automatically or by hand. The die 20 then moves forward to partly form the hook bar and hold it firmly against the anvil die 17. The forming dies then move inwardly from their sides and form the ends of the hook bar round the lips 18 and 19 and the anvil die. Subsequently the finished hook bar is stripped from the anvil die and a fresh blank cut and positioned as herelnbefore described.

The outer end of this.

Blanks are "What I claim is 4 1. .Apparatus for forming a hook bar comprising an anvil die having a lip at one side; a die co-operating therewith to grip the bar and curved through an arc of less than 90 at one end to partly bend the bar about said lip; and a third die adapted to move in a direc tion approximately parallel to the length of the bar and to and from a position co-operat- .ing with the other dies to upset the partly bent end of the bar over said lip, said third die having a part against which the second die may force the end of the hook bar to give it a reverse bend prior to the upsetting operation.

2. Apparatus for forming a hook bar comprising an anvil die having a lip at one side; a die co-operating therewith to grip the bar and partly bend it round the said lip; a third die moving in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of the first two dies adapted. to further bend the end of the bar round the lip; a fourth die movable on the last mentioned die in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of'the said ,third die; and means for moving said fourth die towards the aforesaid lip as the said third die is approaching the end of its movement towards the lip.

3. Apparatus for forming a hook bar comprising an anvil die having a lip at one side. a die co-operating therewith to grip the bar and partly bend it round the said lip; a third die moving in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of the first :two dies adapted to further bend the end of the bar round the lip; a fourth die movable on the last mentioned die in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the said third die; and means for moving said fourth die towards the aforesaid lip as the said third die is approaching the end of. its movement towards the lip comprising an inclined surface, stationary relative to the anvil die, and a part on the fourth die adapted ;to engage said inclined surface.

4. Apparatus for forming a hook bar comprising an anvil die having a lip at one side; a die co-operating therewith to grip the bar and partly bend it round the said lip; a third die swinging in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of the first two dies adapted to further bend the end of the bar round the lip; a fourth die swinging on the last mentioned die in a direction trans- ;Verse to the direction of movementof the said third die; and means for moving said fourth die towards the aforesaid lip as the said third die is approaching the end of its movement towards the lip.

5. Apparatus for forming a hook bar comprising an anvil die having alip at one side; a die co-operating therewith to grip the bar and partly bend it round thesaid lip; a third die swinging in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of the first two dies adapted to further bend the end of the bar round the lip; a fourth die swinging on the last mentioned die in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the said third die; means for moving said fourth die towards the aforesaid lip as the said third,

die is approaching the end of its movement towards the lip; a spring tending to move the said fourth die to engage the bar; and a stop limiting the said movement of the die.

6. A process of forming a hook bar with a return bent hook of an inner radius of curvature less than the thickness of the bar which consists in first bending the end of the bar to partly form the hook, supporting the partly formed hook portion at back and front adjacent the level of the desired center of curvature of the hook and thereafter upsetting the extreme end to cause a displacement of the metal mainly in a direction parallel to the unbentportion of the bar to complete the formation of the hook.

7. A process of forming a hook bar with a return bent hook of an inner radius of curvature less than the thickness of the bar which consists in first bending the end of the bar to partly form the hook, supporting the partly formed hook portion at back and front adjacent the level of the desired center of curvature of the hook and thereafter upsetting the extreme end to cause a displacement of the metal mainly in a direction parallel to the unbent portion of the bar but partly towards the middle of the bend to complete theformation of the hookand increase the cross sectional area of metal at the middle of the bend.

8. A process of forming a hook bar with a return bent hook of an inner radius of curvature less than the thickness of the bar which consists in first bending the end of the bar to partly form the hook, bending back the extreme end to incline it away from the bend, supporting the partly formed hook portion at back and front adjacent the level of the desired center of curvature of the hook and thereafter upsetting the extreme end to cause a displacement of the metal mainly in a direction parallel to the unbent portion of the bar to complete the formation of the hook.

9. A process of forming a hook bar with a return bent hook of an inner radius of curvature less than the thickness of the be which consists in first bending the end of the bar to partly form the hook, bending back the extreme end to incline it away from the bend, supporting the partly formed hook portion at back and front adjacent the level of the desired center of curvature of the hook and thereafter upsetting the extreme end to cause a displacement of the metal mainly in a direction parallel to the unbent portion of the bar but partly towards the middle of the bend to complete the formation of the hook and increase the cross sectional area of metal at the middle of the bend.

10. Apparatus for forming a hook bar with a return bent hook which comprises means for securely clamping and holding the shank of the bar; means for first bending the end oi the bar to partly form the hook, bending back the extreme end to incline it away from the bend, and supporting the partly formed hook portion at back and front adjacent the level of the desired center of curvature of the hook; and means for upsetting the end to cause a displacement of the metal mainly in a direction parallel to the unbent portion of the bar but partly towards the middle of the bend to complete the formation of the hook and increase the cross sectional area of metal at the middle of the bend.

11. Apparatus for forming a hook bar with a return bent hook which comprises a pair of dies, one of which has a lip at one side and the other of which is shaped to cooperate with the first to grip the bar and partly bend its end round the said lip; and a third die mounted to move in a direction approximately parallel to the unbent part of the bar to upset the end of the bar over the said lip to complete the hook, the die being shaped to partly receive the said end to maintain its shape laterally.

12. Apparatus for forming a hook bar with a return bent hook which comprises a pair of dies, one of which has a lip at one side and the other of which is shaped to cooperate with the first to grip the bar and partly bend its end round the said lip; and a third die mounted to move in a direction approximately parallel to the unbent part of the bar to upset the end of the bar over the said lip to complete the hook, the die being shaped to partly receive the said end to maintain its shape laterally and shaped to displace metal to increase the cross sectional area of metal at the middle of the bend.

Signed at Gait, Canada, this 30th day of January, 1924.

JAMES J. MARSHALL. 

